Music Theory a good replacement for lack of lessons?

[Fetusyolk]

i could never really pay for lessons, and i haven't been playing for very long (about a year and 8 months). I'd like to think i know the bassics around playing, but i've taken the opportunity that my school has presented. i've signed up for music theory (which i regret not having taken beforehand). Do you think this is a good replacement? or just a step in the right direction. I know a few musicians who have done this, and supposedly this course is supposed to be very great.

[Vakmere]

Theory without lessons? Book smart does nothing for the practical side. Apply theory to the fingerings that lessons give you along with whatever influences you are listening to and in time the ability that is in you now comes out. The fusion of the three will make a good musician. When you begin to understand what it is youre listening to and how to disect it, playing it will become fairly effortless.....in time. This is one thing you cant rush. Time my friend.

[JimmyM]

Theory is the book portion of music, and lessons are putting the book portion into practice. So while it's good to learn theory, you could learn to apply it on your own, but lessons will assist greatly with learning how to apply it.

[Fetusyolk]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Theory is the book portion of music, and lessons are putting the book portion into practice. So while it's good to learn theory, you could learn to apply it on your own, but lessons will assist greatly with learning how to apply it.

supposedly this class also incorporates some of the more physical aspects as well. my friend who took brought his acoustic guitar in every day and better learned how to incorporate in his playing. I'm hoping i'll learn the same.

[amadeusex]

knowledge doesn't hurt my friend ... it's always preferable to know music theory - take the course and learn the stuff, it's gonna be worth it in the long run.

keep playing

[Tin Man]

being a practicing lover of music and taking theory I think will help you greatly. I would suggest having your rig pluged in and amped up when your studying and applying the theory right there it will give it two ways to stay in your head the book stuff and the fingers.

of course I have never taken a theory class so I dont relly know what is involved. so take anything I say with a grain.

[JonathanD]

As someone who made a living teaching 70-80 students a week for 3 years.

Take 3-4 lessons from a really really good teacher. All the time asking them to point out areas you need work on. Then take a 6 month break. Then find another teacher and repeat.

This method requires that 'you' actually work hard.

Most people go to lessons over and over having to learn the same things over and over because they don't practice at home.

If you find a teacher you really like, go back to them. But monogamy is not the answer.

Read technique articles, and subscribe to BP magazine if you can. learn the song in there each month, and learn a wide variety of songs in different generas. use your ears and sheet music if possible.

Focus on playing as you play. Try not to focus on "being a great player"

best of luck,
Jonathan

[PocketGroove82]

Music Theory Classes and Bass Guitar Lessons are totally different.
Studying music theory can help you become a better bass guitar player, while mastering the bass guitar can really help you understand music theory...but the two are different things entirely.

Studying Music Theory is akin to studying grammar, vocabulary, and syntax.
Bass Guitar Lessons are like doing physical therapy for your vocal chords, so that you can simply produce words/sounds.
Granted, there is a ton of gray area between the two.

Matt

[Killens84]

I started playing bass a little over four years ago, when I was a sophomore in college. I'm a music education major, and I'm about to graduate with my degree soon. So I had to take all of the basic music theory classes, and also some advanced music theory classes. My primary instrument is trumpet. But I've found these music classes to have a HUGE impact on my bass playing. I've never taken bass lessons, and I don't practice a WHOLE lot.

However, I've been getting many many compliments on my bass playing. And I myself have seen massive improvement in my playing. And I realized the reason is because of the wheels that are spinning in my head. Those classes have taught me to be such a good overall musician, and to have such a large understanding of music, that it's very easy to apply it to the bass when I'm playing. It's like second nature now. Now, I don't have the best technique in the world, but I believe I play with incredible musicianship because of those music classes I've taken in college.

That's my story, and my experience. Everyone is different, but I believe music theory classes, and other formal music classes can greatly improve your bass playing.

[AlphaMale]

I'm self taught also. Theory is nothing without knowing how to apply it. I recommend you take your their classes though. You have to figure out how to apply it.

[tswd]

It won't hurt to study theory, but here's something to think about. If you only study theory, without ever picking up your instrument, you won't become a better player. If you never study theory, but play constantly, you will become a better player. But, you'll also end up inherently knowing some of the theory without realizing it. You'll hear somebody explain something and think "Oh, ok. I kinda already knew that, in a way."

One instructor I had said that theory is merely an attempt to explain why certain things sound good. If you play something that sounds good, but doesn't fit the theory, you shouldn't change what you played. You just need a different theory to explain it.

So, bottom line, you need to play constantly. Taking theory lessons will be a short cut to learn things that might take years to click on your own.